# 2025: A look back at the most notable tech Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1eZLQsVJ1ik Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/1eZLQsVJ1ik Generated: 2025-12-10T15:35:46.216+00:00 --- ## Quick Overview The Verge staff selected their favorite tech items of 2024, featuring the Matic Robot Vacuum, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7, the Also TM-B e-bike, the Amazon Alexa Plus smart speaker, the upgradable Framework Laptop 16, the Nintendo Switch 2, the PlayStation Portal, the Insta360 X5 camera, and Sora 2 AI video generation as standout technologies. **Key Points:** - The Matic Robot Vacuum, designed by former Google Nest engineers, costs $1,245 and features a unique design that avoids a giant dock, functioning more like a friendly pet. - The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 was praised for being incredibly thin and light when folded, though its cameras were noted as not being as great as mainstream phones. - The Also TM-B e-bike stands out for its unique design, including a belt drive, removable battery that doubles as a portable power bank, and a $4,500 launch price. - The Amazon Alexa Plus was highlighted for its potential, despite a bumpy start with the generative AI revamp of its voice assistant. - The Framework Laptop 16 was recognized for its high upgradability, featuring swappable ports and a dedicated GPU module (like the Nvidia RTX 4050), allowing owners to upgrade components easily. - The Nintendo Switch 2 was noted for having the biggest launch, featuring quality-of-life updates and allowing cloud streaming via the PlayStation Portal, which enables playing console games anywhere. - OpenAI's Sora 2 AI video generator was a standout for producing highly realistic and editable video content, with the potential to impact how media is created and consumed. ![Screenshot at 00:42: Jennifer Pattison Tuohy introduces the Matic Robot Vacuum, priced at $1,245, which is designed to be less intrusive in the home environment.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/1eZLQsVJ1ik/00-00-42.png) **Context:** This video presents a roundup of technology items and trends that members of The Verge staff consider their standouts for 2024, covering hardware, software, and emerging AI technologies. The segment features several staff members, including Owen Grove, Jennifer Pattison Tuohy, Antonio G. Di Benedetto, Victoria Song, and Hayden Field, each presenting their personal pick across different categories like home robotics, mobile, computing, gaming, and AI. ## Detailed Analysis The Verge staff shared their top tech picks for 2024, covering a wide range of categories. Owen Grove selected the Matic Robot Vacuum ($1,245), noting its thoughtful design that integrates better into the home environment without a large docking station and its ability to operate without constant Wi-Fi. Jennifer Pattison Tuohy chose the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7, praising its thinness when folded but noting the cameras were not as good as mainstream phones. Andrew Hawkins picked the Also TM-B e-bike, calling it the most unique e-bike he has seen due to its pedal-by-wire system, removable battery/power bank, and $4,500 price tag for the launch version. Antonio G. Di Benedetto favored the Framework Laptop 16 for its high degree of upgradability, including swappable ports and GPU modules, making it better for owners who want to upgrade over time. Victoria Song chose the Nintendo Switch 2 as her biggest launch, appreciating the improved quality of life and the ability to use the PlayStation Portal for cloud streaming games anywhere. Hayden Field selected AI Wearables in general, specifically mentioning the utility of Meta AI in Ray-Ban glasses during a vacation, and also picked Sora 2 for its impressive video generation capabilities, despite the issue of watermarking. Finally, Ash Parrish chose the PlayStation Portal for enabling cloud streaming of PS5 games without needing the TV, and the Insta360 X5 camera for its superior 360-degree video editing workflow. ### Hardware Picks (Owen Grove) - Matic Robot Vacuum ($1,245) - features thoughtful, non-intrusive design - operates without constant Wi-Fi ### Hardware Picks (Jennifer Pattison Tuohy) - Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 - praised for being thin and light when folded - camera quality lags behind mainstream phones ### Hardware Picks (Andrew Hawkins) - Also TM-B E-Bike - features pedal-by-wire, removable battery/power bank - launch price of $4,500, cheaper base model in late 2026 ### Hardware Picks (Antonio G. Di Benedetto) - Framework Laptop 16 - highly upgradable with swappable ports and GPU modules (like RTX 4050) - continuous improvement over previous models ### Hardware Picks (Ash Parrish) - Nintendo Switch 2 - biggest launch device of the year - enables cloud gaming via PlayStation Portal without needing the console nearby ### Hardware Picks (Ash Parrish) - Insta360 X5 Camera - superior 360 camera - editing workflow is easier than previous models ### Software/AI Picks (Victoria Song) - Amazon Alexa Plus - shows potential despite rough start with generative AI - expected to become more powerful ### Software/AI Picks (Hayden Field) - AI Wearables (Meta AI in Ray-Ban Glasses) - proven useful for real-time assistance during travel - Sora 2 AI video generation shows excellent results, though watermarking is an issue ![Screenshot at 00:01: Owen Grove introducing the segment on tech standouts for 2025.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/1eZLQsVJ1ik/00-00-01.png) ![Screenshot at 00:42: The Matic Robot Vacuum, a white and black device with a cat face display, is shown.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/1eZLQsVJ1ik/00-00-42.png) ![Screenshot at 02:42: The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 is displayed unfolded, showing its dual-screen interface.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/1eZLQsVJ1ik/00-02-42.png) ![Screenshot at 04:00: The Also TM-B e-bike is presented, highlighting its unique frame and integrated components.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/1eZLQsVJ1ik/00-04-00.png) ![Screenshot at 11:55: A short clip generated by Sora 2 shows a man in a cat costume interacting with an employee, demonstrating realistic video generation.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/1eZLQsVJ1ik/00-11-55.png)